White Sox 7, Angels 3

CHICAGO -- Darin Erstad has been doing a little bit of everything for the White Sox, even helping them beat his former team.

Erstad hit a go-ahead double against the Angels and Jermaine Dye homered twice, leading Chicago to a 7-3 victory over Los Angeles on Friday night.

Erstad, who played 11 seasons with the Angels before signing with Chicago in the offseason, drove in Juan Uribe with an RBI double to break a 3-all tie in the sixth and chase Angels starter Ervin Santana (2-3).

"This guy does everything the manager wants you to do. He knows how to play the game and moves guys over, he bunts in the right situation, he takes pitches, he walks, he plays a great center field and he will get hot and he will get better," White Sox manger Ozzie Guillen said.

Erstad wasn't fazed by playing against his former team.

"Honestly, I treat every team exactly the same. I respect everyone exactly the same. Yeah, there are other circumstances, but to me, I treat it as just another game," he said.

Erstad signed for a base salary of $750,000, and the White Sox have a $3.5 million option for 2008 with a $250,000 buyout.

Chicago played most of the game without designated hitter Jim Thome. He left after fouling off a pitch in the first inning. Thome had missed two straight games with mild irritation of his right rib cage.

Guillen said the White Sox are contemplating making a move with Thome ailing.

"We had a little meeting today (after the game) about what we think and what we'll do. We're going to wait at least until (Saturday) on what decision we have to make," Guillen said.

Jose Contreras allowed three runs in 6 1/3 innings. He gave up seven hits but got help from his defense with three double plays. Contreras (2-2) had one strikeout and walked three in his 50th major league win.

A.J. Pierzynski homered following Dye's solo shot in the fourth. Tadahito Iguchi added a two-run triple in the eighth for Chicago, which has won seven of nine.

Casey Kotchman hit a two-run homer for the Angles, who dropped to 1-8 on the road. The Angels also lost Garret Anderson in the eighth with a sore right hip.

Anderson is unsure how serious the injury is.

"I don't know. Generally, you want to treat everything carefully," he said. "So yeah, we'll just be cautious about it."

Dye homered in the fourth for Chicago's first hit and connected again in the seventh against Justin Speier, giving him five home runs this season.

The White Sox hit consecutive homers for the first time this season.

Erstad led off the fifth with a single and scored from first on Paul Konerko's double to give Chicago a 3-0 lead.

"Erstad had a heck of a game. We did some things we need to do against him, but Erstad keeps grinding. He got some key hits late for them and a key walk," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He is running very well. I know he worked hard to get there."

Contreras got into trouble in the sixth. With one out, Orlando Cabrera hit the first of three consecutive singles for the Angels. Cabrera advanced to second on Vladimir Guerrero's base hit and scored on Anderson's single to right. Guerrero tried to advance to third, but was thrown out.

Kotchman followed with a two-run shot off Contreras on a 3-0 pitch to tie the score at 3.

White Sox reliever Andrew Sisco struck out Kotchman to end the eighth with runners on second and third to preserve a 5-3 lead.

Santana pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up four runs and five hits. He walked six and struck out three.

Notes

Angles 3B Maicer Izturis made a spectacular sliding catch on Erstad's ball in foul territory near the White Sox dugout in the third inning. ... It was Kotchman's second homer of the season.

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